Your favorite bushcraft knife with 3 to 5 in. blade?

[sisk61]

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what knives are these?

They look like Kepharts. The bottom one is a JK and i suppose the other two are ML.. Both are awesome knives. I had a JK Kephart for a while and loved it.

 

[Mack]

I keep seeing people mention the ESEE knives. Am I the only one that finds their handles horribly uncomfortable? They certainly don't fit my hand.

 

[Mistwalker]

I keep seeing people mention the ESEE knives. Am I the only one that finds their handles horribly uncomfortable? They certainly don't fit my hand.

Oh, you're not the only one or Dale at T-K-C wouldn't have come up with the after market scales for them, which drastically change the ergonomics. ESEE has a strong following though, and their knives do have their niche. They are tough and most have a very slice-y full flat grind and come nice and sharp, and their lifetime warranty is hard to beat. The 3-MIL is one of the few production knives on the market that comes stock with so many carry options, from boot, to belt, to molle, and pack straps. I have an old RC-3MIL that's about 4 years old, and has been through the wringer. It's still one of the knives I carry when I know I am going to experiment, and use a knife hard, especially when discretion is a factor.

That said, if I know I am going to be doing a lot of carving or whittling there are other knives I will reach for first. I like the size of the ESEE-3 enough that I recently had Chris Bowden of KFU knives, a memeber here, make me one of similar size, but with much better ergonomics.

A lot more pictures of it in this thread I posted in the Feddback section. Chris did an awesome job on the ergonomics.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1030278-KFU-Knives-A-Great-Experience-(Photo-Heavy)

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[maethor]

Mistwalker, that ESEE-3/HEST inspired custom is INSANE. Looks like an awesome blade. Who made it? What steel was used?

My current favorite. It took some work, but it's really great now:

 

[Mistwalker]

Mistwalker, that ESEE-3/HEST inspired custom is INSANE. Looks like an awesome blade. Who made it? What steel was used?

My current favorite. It took some work, but it's really great now:

Chris Bowden of KFU Knives made it for me. It is 8-inches overall, 3 1/2-inch balde, 3/16 1095 steel.
Like I said, more pics in this link. Chris did an awesome job, and at an awesome price.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1030278-KFU-Knives-A-Great-Experience-(Photo-Heavy)

 

[Mistwalker]

Don't take this wrong, but even with as awesome of a job as Chris did, the above knife, it still isn't what I would personally consider a “bushcraft” knife. It was posted in response to protourist's post on the ESEE and their handle ergonomics. There is actually much more to this design than meets the eye in this configuration, and Chris did an awesome job of bringing it to life for me to test certain aspects of the design and blade geometry. He also did a wonderful job with the ergonomics.

If I am going to post what I would consider my favorite actually dedicated bushcraft knife, and given the title of this thread I suppose I should, then my current favorite is Andy Roy's interpretation of the Kephart. When I think of bushcraft knives I think of narrower blades and pointier tips for detailed woodworking and carving for crafting things from natural materials found in the bush. Combined with a very comfortable handle. Andy nailed that design for me with his Kephart model.

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[Mistwalker]

With that being said, I know that Andy's knives are a little pricey for some. Chris does some very nice bushcraft knives himself that are more easily affordable. My first KFU knife is more of a bushcraft style knife, and if you didn't follow the above link here are a few pics of it.

 

[Sulaco]

My favorite right now is my Bark River Aurora in 3V. My wife bought this for me this past Christmas. This is only the 2nd or 3rd time it's been out. We went to the mountains this past weekend. I didn't get to use it much, but I had it on me nontheless. I have used it some though and am looking forward to using it more soon!

 

[Dirtknap]

Here's another pic of my 4 inch condor kep doing one of the many hardcore tasks I demand of my field tools

 

[tek77]

Just got this a week ago. Didn't spent enough time with it, but so far I'm impressed with fit/ finish quality and the way it handles. Growing fast on me.

 

[ivan51]

Here's another pic of my 4 inch condor kep doing one of the many hardcore tasks I demand of my field tools

nice kephart :thumbup:

 

[tidefan]

Tops Spirit Hunter. Excellent blade..

 

[LG&M]

It might not fit your definition of "bushcraft" but works for me.

 

[sicily02]

Here is one of my favorites, with the Breeden Divit (Center pin drilled out so it works as a bearing for the bow drill)
4." long handle and a 5" blade.

I have 3/16" tan canvas micarta for the liners and then orange G-10 for the outer part of the handle.

I wish I could have had this knife as my primary fixed blade as a kid growing
up.

Bryan

 

[Samon]

enzo trapper in 01 with curly birch lovel knife and deffinately the best one I've had.Sold it though as I didn't want to ruin it and needed cash, so i just use my old limited edition mora 510. great knife, cheap as chips and razor sharp.. so probably the best on overal.

 

[discdoggin]

Haven't found one to beat it... mistwalker may change that if he keeps posting pics of that FB Kephart, though.

DD

 

[schmittie]

Wow DD, that one is SWEET!

Lets see some feather sticks with it in Andy's forum!

 

[Rupestris]

L to R - BRKT Bravo 1, Gravelle custom and Mora 780 Craftsmen Tri-Flex.

 

[Dirtknap]

nice kephart :thumbup:

They are a nice usable knife for 30 bucks, aint they.

 

[rpn]

Some great knives in this thread. Here's a little knife porn with my favs- Some Koyote's (Great Basin Bushcrafter and Little Big Knife woodsman) and my ScrapYard War Dog. A lot have knives have come and gone and these have stayed. The handle on the GBB is just perfection and the LBK does everything well...